My 78 GS550 Cafe Project!

[byrdman76]

The side view... I am going to raise the rear of the tank to get a straighter line across the bottom - get rid of the valley that is currently there. Im also going to bob the front fender and spray it black and stripe it like the tank and tail section in gold - stay tuned and wish me lots of luck!

you da man bhppy!

[bhppy101]

The side view... I am going to raise the rear of the tank to get a straighter line across the bottom - get rid of the valley that is currently there. Im also going to bob the front fender and spray it black and stripe it like the tank and tail section in gold - stay tuned and wish me lots of luck!

you da man bhppy!

VERY NICE byrdman76!

I would make a suggestion.....If you plan on using foam padding for the seat.....lower the pan down (sand down some of that shaping foam) so that you don't ride so high.

Keep it comming!

[80GS1000]

Can't wait to see the finished bike. Are you going to put some spoke wheels on it too?

[byrdman76]

VERY NICE byrdman76!

I would make a suggestion.....If you plan on using foam padding for the seat.....lower the pan down (sand down some of that shaping foam) so that you don't ride so high.

Keep it comming!

I wish i could. I realized the same thing once it was too late and i had already glassed the entire thing. Lets just say that there will not be much foam at all.

Next time... I can assure you this will not be the last cafe i build - I cant get enough of Carpy's 750's. I gotta find a local doner bike.

[byrdman76]

Can't wait to see the finished bike. Are you going to put some spoke wheels on it too?

I thought about it and then figured I would leave it alone - however if i found a really cheap set or found someone that wanted to trade i would probably do it.

Do the mags and the spokes switch out on both the 550's and the 750's. Not between the two models but for each one specifically.

[bhppy101]

I wish i could. I realized the same thing once it was too late and i had already glassed the entire thing. Lets just say that there will not be much foam at all.

Next time... I can assure you this will not be the last cafe i build - I cant get enough of Carpy's 750's. I gotta find a local doner bike.

byrdman76...

Where are you from?......Carpy is from my neck of the woods and he does some beautiful work!! Never met the guy.....but his website inspires me as well. I have a CB750 that I have'nt touched yet...but I plan to do a complete teardown/buildup with it some day...lol.... wish there where more hours in a day....or better yet...more days in a year!...lol

Again....I give you props on your fiberglass work! especially for your first....it turned out great!

[dogal123]

Hi Guys, I have to say I read this post from the start and bhppy101 just inspired me to build a cafe racer and do the glass work as well. It's going to be a GSX750F (katana you guys call it) on a GS750b 1977 frame and tank, starting to get parts like bearings for headstock etc, have already GSX1100 swingarm, so going to give it a go anyway, but just thought I'd write and say thanks byrdman76 for pics very helpful and thanks bhppy101 for the inspiration, I've got the bug!!!:-D

[byrdman76]

byrdman76...

Where are you from?......Carpy is from my neck of the woods and he does some beautiful work!! Never met the guy.....but his website inspires me as well. I have a CB750 that I have'nt touched yet...but I plan to do a complete teardown/buildup with it some day...lol.... wish there where more hours in a day....or better yet...more days in a year!...lol

Again....I give you props on your fiberglass work! especially for your first....it turned out great!

Im in Raleigh NC - Ive been looking for a CB750 or GS750 and just missed out on a CB on craigslist a few weeks ago. There is actually some nice ones on there now but thats not what im looking for since the majority of it will be hacked.

Unfortuanely it seems like there is alot more cafe stuff and intrest in the vintage CB's vs the GS's - we'll just have to work on changing that!

Thanks for the compliments - I cant wait to finish this one and start on the next.

[byrdman76]

Hi Guys, I have to say I read this post from the start and bhppy101 just inspired me to build a cafe racer and do the glass work as well. It's going to be a GSX750F (katana you guys call it) on a GS750b 1977 frame and tank, starting to get parts like bearings for headstock etc, have already GSX1100 swingarm, so going to give it a go anyway, but just thought I'd write and say thanks byrdman76 for pics very helpful and thanks bhppy101 for the inspiration, I've got the bug!!!:-D

Sounds sweet man - take lots of pics of the process and post em up. Good luck.

BTW i would not recommend using the "Elmers" brand resin for your fiber glass. The stuff takes way to long to harden and dry regardless of how much hardener you use. I used the Bondo brand towards the end and the difference was like night and day.

bhppy may be able to shed some light on the best brand to use.

I also used the woven fiberglas instead of the matt (i figured it would be stronger) and i think that that was a mistake as well. It was just very difficult to get it to lay down over curves with out cuttting relief into the glass - this becomes very difficult once its is saturated with the resin.

Just a few helpful hints - im sure you will discover plenty of your own!

[bhppy101]

Hi Guys, I have to say I read this post from the start and bhppy101 just inspired me to build a cafe racer and do the glass work as well. It's going to be a GSX750F (katana you guys call it) on a GS750b 1977 frame and tank, starting to get parts like bearings for headstock etc, have already GSX1100 swingarm, so going to give it a go anyway, but just thought I'd write and say thanks byrdman76 for pics very helpful and thanks bhppy101 for the inspiration, I've got the bug!!!:-D

Good luck with your project....Glad the bug got ya!... I'm working on an XS650 twin right now and it should be one of the best lookers that I've built so far!...No offense my fellow GS'ers...lol

Picked it up yesterday...and got it running today! I'm building the seat right now. I'd say that this one will probably take me a couple of weeks of late nighters.

Thanks again everyone...for all of the great compliments that I have gotten. I promise that the next GS that I build...it will be a GSR exclusive!

Bhppy101

[Zooks]

I used a palm sander.....but I'm sure that if you used some 60 grit by hand....you can get the same results.....just make sure that you primer it with a bunch of coats and sand with 400-800 grit in between primer coats to get rid of all of the scratches from the rough grit.

Be careful filling scratches with primer or spray putty. After a year or two it will shrink and the scratches will show through.

To paint over chrome you'd be better off starting with 100 grit and then moving to 180 or 240 before priming. When you rub the primer you shouldn't need to go any finer than 400.

I'm a panelbeater by trade (body repairer) and spent many years doing custom paintwork. The common thing in the 80's was to paint over chrome bumpers and door handles to get that 'colour coded' look.

[airportcop]

Good job so far. Looks cool. Keep us posted.

[cruisinflatout]

Looks good!